Does anyone have good massage techniques for a horse with a sore back or things that have helped relived the muscle? Thanks.
I studied equine massage therapy and one exercise I learned to help back soreness is to place two fingers (if this doesn’t work, try two small round stones) one on the belly just behind the front legs and one closer to the middle of the belly and gently push up. When you do this, you should see the horse start to lift the belly and round the back a bit, engaging the muscles. If you do this a few times a day, you help your horse to use those muscles and stretch the spine.
You can also do some basic and very soft work between the spinous processes. I go vertebrae by vertebrae along my horse’s back, with thumb and forefinger on either side of the space between the vertebrae. I then pull the fingers together and up very lightly until I feel the muscle relax. If you are quiet and paying close attention, you can feel your horse release tension at every vertebrae. It can take some time for both you and your horse to notice such small changes, but be patient.
Another one my horse really likes is to loosen the fascia around his rib cage. This can be extremely sensitive so make sure you use a light touch and really watch your horse’s reaction. I gently rub from the belly all the way to the spine in one steady upward motion. You can see the tissue sort of wrinkle as you do this and you can tell from the reaction of your horse how much tension is in this area. Just be careful because some horse’s may be so tense that this is uncomfortable for them, but my boy closes his eyes and drops his head the moment I start. He loves it. The most important thing to keep in mind is it’s all connected so while soreness may show in the back, it’s affecting the entire body. Good luck!
Having your saddle fit professionally to your horses back does wonders for it!
Google the Masterson Method. There are certified therapists who use this method but there are also DIY videos on YouTube. I had a therapist use this method on my horse for about 6 months until I had to move stables, and she taught me some basic moves that I still use today. I found it really helps my horse relax and be more flexible.
